Sheet feeding device



Dem l, 1931. E CHESHlRE 1,834,382

SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 16, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet l D'ec. 1, 1931.

E. CHI-:SHIRE 1,834,382

SHEET FEEDING DEVICE a sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 16, 1924 DeC. l, 1931.E CHESHlRE 1,834,382

SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 16, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. l, 1931.E. CHESHIRE 1,834,382

HEETFEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 16, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. l, 1931.

E. CHESHIRE SHEET FEEDING DEVICE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 67 93 75 Filed Aug.16, 1924 jizz/@HE7 De@ 1, 1931- E. CHEsHlRE 1,834,382

y SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 16, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. l,1931. E. cHEsHIRE SHEET FEEDING DEVICE 8 sheets-sheet 7 Dec. l, 1931. E.CHI-:SHIRE SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Ag. 1e, l1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 8Patented Dec. l1, 1931 cierren srars PATENT ori-ice i EDWARD oiiEsiiiaE,or MILWAUKEE, WrscoNsiN" VV'siiiiE'i EEEDiNG DEVICE Application ledAugust 16, 1924. Serial No. 732,443.

Y My invention pertainsito.sheet-feedingdevices, and relates especiallyto devices for feeding sheets to the platen of a platen printing press.*i5 An `object of my invention is to provide a feeding device in whichthe member which carries the sheets is given a movement of a smooth andeasy nature, so as to minimize wear and vibration of the parts and toallow Y "-f) of feeding at relativelyhigh speeds wit-hout damage to themechanism or loss of vaccuracy in its functioning. Itis another'objectto 'produce a feeding device for platen presses in y, which there willbe a high degree of accessi- 5 bility. both to the feeding device and tothe press, and which will permitsucli operations as the hand-feeding ofsheetsand the makei'eady of the press to be performed with greatfacility. It is afurther object of my vinven- '20 tion to produce afeeding device which will be an improvement on othersheretofore producedand proposed in simplicity .and ruggedness of construction, ease ofadjustment and operation, and 'general cliiciency in the. perform,-

J' K25 ance of its work. And-still other and further '30 ccinpanyingdrawings, and described in the vfollowing specification,` a feedingdevice constructed in accordance with my invention. It is to beunderstood however that my invention may be embodied in other forms, andv 5 that changes may be made in the form described and shown, withoutexceeding the scope thereof as dei'ined in the appended claims. As thisapplication relates particu- Vlai'ly to means for feeding sheets, themeans for delivering the printed sheets from the "press described below,and the feed and delivery tables with the automatic means for actuatingthe saine, are not shown in detail, or described at length, herein. Suchdelivery di means, however, is described in my co-pending application,Ser. No. 26,972, vfiled April In the drawings: i

Figure l is a side elevation of. a platen press having a sheetfeedingdevice embodying my invention applied thereto, the feed grippers beingin their rear, sheet-receiving position, and the fly-wheel beingremoved;

Figure 2 is a plan of the same; VFigure 3 is a front view ofthe same;Figure l is .asection on the linev 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in thedirection-of the arrows; r

Figure 5 isa section on the line 5 5 of Figure 3, looking' in thedirection of the arrows; G0

Figure; 6-.is an enlarged side View of the feed arm and associatedparts, parts being broken away to" show the means. for effecting theclosure of the feed grippers; f o

. Figure 7. is a view similar ,to Figure 6, but p, showing a differentposition of theparts; y

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure f 3,'y showing themechanism in a position in which the feed grippers are just about toseize a sheet; 'im

Figure 9 is aplan of the parts shown in Figure 8'; A

Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to Figure 8, but showingthe-mechanism in a position in which the feed grippers liaveyjustdeposited a sheet upon the platen; Figure 11 is a plan .of the partsshownin Figure l0; A zf Figure V12 is a section onf the line 12-.12 ofFigure l0; and A, 299

Figure 13 is an enlarged. vertical section of one of the feed grippers.vI

' Referring now to the drawings, the main frame of the machine comprisesa left-hand side casting 20 and a right-hand side casting i 21 which areconnected together so as to forni a solid framework for thensupport ofthe mechanism. Each of these castings is formed with a web whichoverlies the ordi- `the lower ends ofthebushings 22`rest, and are.threaded into the horns a.

Y Nuts 24 are provided on the upper ends'of the studs 23, and washersare. interposedl between these nutsgloo* and the webs of the sidecastings 2O and 2l. It will be seen that by this means the castings 20and 2l are connected securely to the press; and that any slightadjustment of the )osition of the main frame may be obtained y adjustingthe threaded bushings 22 before tightening the nuts 24. Bolted betweenthe side castings 20 and 21 is a ribbed front plate 25 which is disposedso as to be slightly inclined forward from the vertical. The front plateis also bolted between the horns (a of the press, and serves as a girtto stay the press frame in substitute for parts which are removed inapplying the present feeding device. It also forms a guide for the frontface of the pile of stock to be fed, as will be later described. Abottom plate 2G is also bolted between the side castings 20 and 2l.

To the outside' of the right-hand side casting 2lfthere is bolted ahousing 27 (Figs. 3 and formed with bearings 28-23 for a short shaftL19, the bearings being so positioned as to align the shaft 29 with thepress shaft 5 which carries the usual bull-wheel c connected by thecrank-arm CZ with the pressbed c. On the inner end ofthe shaft 29 issecured a cam 30, which is connected (Fig. 4) to the pin which connectsthe crank arm (Z to the bull-wheel c, to which latter the cam 30 standsadjacent. Thus the .shaft 29 is caused to rotate with the press-shaft 5.

A. downwardly and forwardly inclined stock-table 3l is located betweenthe side castings 2Ov and 2l, with its front edge adjacent the frontplate 25, and is provided with a stem 32 which has a bearing in thebottom plate 26. Upon this table is placed the pile of sheets to be fed,the front face of the pile engaging the front plate 25, and the sidefaces bei-ng engaged by suitable side guides. Automatic means areprovided forelevating the table step by step as sheets are removedtherefrom, but are not shown or described herein, as they form no partofthe present invention.

Extending between the sideV castings 2O and 21, at a short distance fromthe front plate 2o is a separator bar 33. VThis is carried by a pair ofarms 34, one of which is pivoted to the left-hand side casting 20. Theother arm 34 is secured to a shaft 35 having its bearing at one end inthe right-hand side casting 2l, and at the other end in a member 36secured to the housing 27 (Figs. 2', 3 and 4) ln the drawings, the shaftl is shown as former with an ofset'portion. This is to provide clearancefor other parts of the machine, not shown herein. Near its outer end,the shaft 35 is provided with an arm 37 which is connected by a link 33with a cam-lever 39 pivoted to the housing 27 and actuated by a cam 40on the shaft 29.

Mounted on the separator bar 33, so as to be Vadjustablelengthwisethereof, are a pair of pneumatic separator' feet 4l.V Theseare connected by suitable hose with cach other and with a shut-off cock42. The cock 42 has a hose connection with a valve 43 (Fior. 4) whichalso connects with a suitable vacuum pump (not shown). rlhe valve 43 hasa stem 44 which engages a cam-arm 45 actuated by a cam 46 on the shaft29.

is the cam 40 revolves, the separator bar 33 is caused to descend untilthe feet 41 rest upon the'top sheet of the pile of stock. At this timethe cani 46 has opened the valve 43, so'that suction is applied at theseparator feet, whereby the top sheet is caused to adhere to the latter.Shortly afterwards, the cam 40 causes the separator bar 33 to riseagain, the top sheet rising with it, adhering to the separator feet 41.The sheet is held in this elevated position until its front edge isseized by the feed grippers to be described below. l/Vhen the sheet isthus seizedthe cam actuates the valve 43, to shut off vacuum from thesheet, thus releasing the latter, to be carried forward. to the platenby the feed grippers.

rlhe side castings 2O and 21 are formed with bearings for receivingarock shaft 47, the end of which extends outwardly of the left-hand sidecasting 2O and has secured to it the lower ond of a feed-arm 43'. rt itsfront part, near the top, the feed-arm 48 is formed with a boss 49 in.which is' cut a slot 50. rlhis slot is curved upon the arc of a circle,the center of which is on the axis of the pin f which connects trieleft-hand crank arm (Z with the bed c, in the position which said pinassumes when the bed is in impressionrposition (Fig. l). Secured in theslot 50 by a nut 5l is a pin 52, to which is rockably connected one endof a link 53. The other end of the link passes through a socket 54rockably mounted on the pin f, and is normally secured against slidingin said socket by means of a latch-pin 55 adapted to enter a suitablyplaced hole in the link 53. rllhe latch-pin 55 is springpresseddownwardly so as to be normally maintained in engagement with the holein the link. Under these conditions the head 5G of the latch pinoccupies a correspondingly shaped depression of the socket 54. Upon thelatchI pin being manually lifted, however, and twisted so that its headcannot enter the depression of the socket 54, it will be maintained in aposition out of engagement with the hole in the link 53, the link beingthen able to slide freely in the socket 54. By this construction, the toand fro rocking of the bed effects a corresponding movement of thefeed-arm 48, the latter swinging rearwardly away from the stock pile asthe bed rocks rearwardly away from its impression position, and wingingforwardly toward-s the stock pile as the' bed rocks forward to itsimpression position. Upon the release of thc latch-pin 55, as abovedescribed, the feed arm can remain stationary while the press continuesits movement.

withan'elongated bearing 57 Y, in which isv rockably mounted agripper-bar 58, the latter being rectangular in lcross-section exceptfor awr 65. Yready to receive a sheet.

the part which entersthe` bearing 57. TheV feed gripper-s 59, two ofwhich 'are provided,

are mounted on thegripper'bar 58; `*Each I Agripper is formed with aVchannel-shaped eenltralportion 60 adapted to fit on the square portionof the gripper bar 58, and to be secured against removal therefrom by aplate 6l attached to the bottom of such central por-v tion. A'withdrawablespring-pressed pin 62 is mounted in the portion V60 and isadapted to enter one or another of a series *ofv holes formed in thegripper bar 58, thereby to per* mit the gripper as a whole to beadjusted longitudinally of the gripper bar, to any desired position onthe latter. Beyond the central portion'60, the gripper is ofchannel-shape Ain cross-section, so as to provide a pair of downwardflanges 68, and is formed at its end with a cylindrical guide 64 forreceiving the movable gripper-jaw 65, which latter is in the form of acylindrical plunger adapted to close upon a fixed jaw 66 secured vto theguide 64 so asto extend beneath the same. An actuating lever 67 ispivoted between the flanges 63 and is bowed at one end so as to extendover andbeyond the central portion 60, at which end it is formedwith anotch 468. At its opposite end, the actuating'lever entersa recess 69formed in the movable jaw, this recess being of such length` as topermit lost motion between the jaw and theend of the lever. A leafspring 67a carried by the Vgripper presses downward upon the movable jaw65 with a pressure which may be regulated by, manipulating an adjustingDuring the cycle ofthe machine, by means which will be described below,jtlielever 67 is moved successively into three effective pozg shapedthat the jaws 66, during the last part sitions. In'the first position,Vshown in Figs. 8 and 13, it presses upwardly on the top end oftherecess 69,7thereby raising the movable In this position the gripperopen,

In the second position,- it presses downwardly on the rbottom end of therrecess 69, thereby forcing the movrable jaw 65 firmly down on a sheetinterposed between it and the fixed jaw 66, whereby the sheet isgripped'positively. ln the third position, shown'in Fig. 10, themovablejaw- 65 is pressed by the action of the 'leaf spring 67a aloneagainst the sheet interposed between it andthe fixed jaw 66, the end ofthe lever 67 being` midway between the ends of therecess 69. tion, thesheet is gripped impositively, strongly enough to be moved by thegripper yet lightly enough to escape from the gripperjawsy upon its edgecoming intoengagement with an abutment.V itis ,desiredl to 'inodifytliestrengthof the impositive gripstationary sheet ,receiving position.rearpart 83 of the cam-slot is shaped so that the jaws 66V of thefeedgrippers can followv In this last posiping above referred'to, thismay be effected by manipulating the screw V67".v

At its end opposite to'that which carries the jaws 65 and 66, and beyondthe central portion 60, the feed-gripper is formed with a pair of arms71,' in theends ofwhich are revolubly mounted bushings 72 having squareholes therein (Fig. 13). Extending through the square holes of thebushings 72 'in the arms 7l of the feed grippers is a rock-shaft 78 ofsquare cr0ss-section for ajportion of its length. Upon this rock-'shaftare mount` ed armsV 7e having square holes therein, so 'that they `rockwith vthe sliaftl These arms 74 are located between the arms 7l of thefeed grippers, and engage at their ends inthe notches 68 of thejaw-actuating levers 67; se that the rocking vof the shaftr' will effectthe several movements of the .levers `'67.

Both` the arms 74: and the bushings 72 ofthe feed-,grippers can slidelengthwise of the rock shaft v78, which enables the feed-grippers,carrying with them the arms 74, to be-adjusted lengthwise of the gripperbar 58 as units.

Nea-r its end adjacent the feed-arm 48,`the

link 78v is connected to the rock-shaft 7 8 and extends downwardlengthwise of the feed arm 48. its lower end, this link enters aguideway'on the feed arm and is Vprovided Vwithv acam-roll 79.v Thecam-roll travels in agcamslot formed in a floating cam 8O pivoted at 8lto the left-hand side casting 20. As the feed arm swingsto and fro thelink 78 causes the feed-grippers 59 and the gripper bar 58 to rock insuch a manner that the fixed jaws 66 of the feed grippers will'follow aThe front'part 82 of the cam-slot is so of their forward movement towardthestock pile land lthe first part of their return movement,`willfollowa path in which they clear the path followed by. the front edge of theplaten f; as the latter rocks to and from its The a path parallel withthe face of the platen, andlin close Aproximity thereto, from a pointnear the center of the platen to a point close to the rear edge of thesame.

- Ashaft 84 extends across'the machine and Y has bearings in thesidecastings`2() and 21. At oneend, this shaft has secured to it an arm 85whichl is connected by an adjustable link 86 with a lug extendingdownward from the floating cam 80. At its vother end, the

rying a roll which engages the edge of the cam S0. f The Ysaid edge isofsuchconfigura- Vshaft 84 is provided with a cam-arm 87 cartion as tocause a drop of the cam-arm 87 when the feed=arm i8 and feed grippers 59reach the end of their feeding movement. lflihen this drop of thecam-arm 8'? tal-es place, the shaft 84 rocks, and its arm 85, thro-ughthe link 86, effects a depression of the floating cam 80. This, throughthe link 78, causes a slight rais g movement of the front ends of thefeed-` ppers, enabling the jaws 6G of thelatter, in their returnmovement, to clear the sheet just fed.

Secured to the end of the rock-shaft 73 is an arm 88 to which is pivoteda link 89, the pivot being located substantially on the axis of thefeed-bar 58. The link 89 extends down beside the linlr 78 and isconnected, by a pin 90 with an arm 97 pivoted to the feed arm 48. Uponthe pin 99 is mounted a cam-roll 91, which,at one state ofthe cycle ofthe machine, is adapted to eng beneath a cam-flange 92 inwardly from thefloating which extends cam 80. The cam-flange 92 is so located thatitwill be engaged by, and remain in engagement with, the roll 9i at andfor substantially the same time as the rear part 88 of the cani-slot isengaged by, and remains in engagement with the roll 79. fr torsionspring 98 connected between the arm 75 and a collar secured on the rockshaft 78, and tends to rock the shaft 78 in a clockwise direction, i. e.in a direction in which the arms 'Til and actuating levers 6'? hold thegripper jaws 65 firmly closed.

As the feed-arm i8 swings towards. the platen g the cam roll 91 is notat first engaged f rnything; consequently the gripper aws Co held firmlyclosed by the action of the spiin 98, l/Vhen however, near the center ofthe platen, the feY d grippers come close to the platen and begin tomove parallel therewith* which is the time 'the roll 7 9 enters upon therear part 88 of its cam slot,-the roll 91 will engage beneath thecam-flange 92, and will thereby be depressed. This depression of theroll 9i and link 89 causes the shaft 78 to reclr, against the action ofthe spring 98, to a sufficient extent to raise the ends of the actuatinglevers 67 to a position midway in the recesses 69 of the movable gripperjaws 65. When this occurs, the movable jaws will engage upon the fixedjaws 66 by pressure of the leaf springs G7 only, as has been describedabove.

Pivoted on the pin 90 which carries the am roll 91, and resting againsta lug 94 on the link 89, is a linger 95 connected by a tension spring 9Gwith a lug formed on the hub of the armi-97. Formed on the upper part ofthe flea-.ing cam' 89, towards the front of the latter, is a cam-lug 98disposed in Va vertical plane somewhat within that occupied by thecamflange 99, of the floating cam 80, the lower face of which lug isinclined downwardly and forwardly. When the feed-arm Vi8 swings forward'to a position where the 'feed-gripper jaws are approaching the sheet.held 'suspended from the separator feet 41,

register gage pins 7i, 7L and the side register pin e' will'have beenplaced in the proper positions o-n the platen. To adjust the throw ofthe feed-armI 48 (supposing sheets of a different length have beenpreviously fed) j the press is turned over until the bed e is in itsrearmost, open position, with the pins of the crank-arms CZ on theirdead centers. The nut 5i is then loosened and the feed arm 48 movedforward or back (the pin 52 sliding in the curved slot 50) until thejaws 66 of the feed grippers 59 are a very slight distance to the rearof the line which the edge of the paper will occupy when it is inengagement vith the end-register pins L, h (Figures 10 and 11). The pileof stock is placed in the proper position with respect to the locationof the side register pin z' on the platen, and the feed grippers 59 andseparator feet il are appropriately adjusted on their bars 58 and 88,`fith respect to each other and with respect to the end-register pins L,7L on the platen.V The machine can then be set in motion.

As the feed arm i8 swings forward towards the pile after the roll 91 hasleft the cam-flange 92, the jaws of the feed grippers are closed; but assoonas the finger 95 strikes the cam-lug 98 they will begin to open. By

this time the separatorl feet il will have raised a sheet into positionto be embraced by the jaws of the feed-grippers (Figures 8 and 9). Asthe feed-arm completes its forward movement, the finger 95 passes beyondthe cam-lug 98 and the aws of the feedgrip f f l pers snap shut upon thesheet (Figure 6). The valve i8 is then actuated to cut-off the suctionand release the sheet from the separater feet 4:1. Thereupon the feedarm 48 begins to swing rearward, the feed grippers il.

carrying with them the sheet towards the platen g, which latter isrocking towards its open position. i During the first part of-thisrearward movement the ends of the feedgrippersV are considerably abovethe platen, to

allow room for the front edge of the latter' to rock past. 1vVhen,however, the cam-roll 79 reaches the front end of the rear part 83 ofthe cam-slot, the Ijaws-66 of the feed grippers will have come intoclose proximity with -F' the platen and thereafter will travelparalleltherewith. At the saine time, the roll 91 will have come into engagementbeneath the cam-flange 92, whereby the gripper jaws will be relievedfrom the action of the spring 93 and will engage upon the sheet bytheaction of the leaf springs 67a alone, thereby retaining the sheetimpostively. J ust before the feed arm concludes its rearward movement,the front edge of the'sheet strikes the end-register pins rt, `Thefeed-grippers then proceed onward, slippingoff'lthe impositively heldsheet and leaving the latter in engagement with the pins. After this,the feed arm moves just the slight distance further necessarytocarry-the feed gripper jaws clear of the sheet. As the rearwardmovement of the feed `arm 48 is thus completed, the cam causes the shaft84: to rock slightly, whereby the link 86 swings the floating cam 8Oslightly downward. This,

through the cam-roll 7 9 and link `78causes an upward tilting of theends of the feedgrippers, allowing them to clear the newly .fed sheet intheir return movement.

It will be noted that the feed mechanism herein described permits thepress to be made-ready for a job, and a short run of sheets to behand-fed, with great facility. All that` is necessary is to lift andturn the latch-pin 55, whereupon the feed'arm may be manually pulledforward to a position a 'little in advance of the'normal extremevforward position shown in Figure 6. When thus pulled forward, itautomatically secures itself by the engagement of an ear 111, with which'it is formed, behind a releasable latch 112 pivoted to a lug on thefloating cam v80. lith the feed-armthus swung back, the press isfullyaccessiblefor make-ready from the operators usual position, andhandfeeding may be performed easily and conveniently.

It will be noted, further, that the feed-arm 48 is driven by acrank-motion yand has the whole cycle o-f the press in which to performits movement; A result ofthis is that the device may be run at highspeeds without loss of feeding accuracy or undue wear ofthe parts.Moreover the act of depositing the sheet against the end register pinson the platen is performed when the feed grippers are travelling veryslowly, having almost reached their dead-center position. This resultsin great accuracy, and an entire freedomfrom any tendency of the sheetsto bounce back from the register pins when being fed at high speeds.Likewise, the seizing of the sheet from the separator feet is effectedwhen the feed grippers are at their other dead-center position, thusgiving plenty of time for this operation to be performed smoothly, andfor the vacuum to be cut 0E from the separator feet 4l before the feedgrippers begin to move again. I

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desireto secured by Letters Pate1it,"is: i l.The combination with a press including a bed, a platen and a crankmotion device for f rocking said bed' with'respect to'said platen',

of means for feeding sheets to said press l comprising a rockable feedarm, a link coniected between said crank motion device and said feed armfor rocking tlielatter between a sheet receiving position and a positionover the platen, a sheet carrying member movably associated with saidfeed arm, and means for ineving said member with respect to said feedarm during the rocking of the latter, whereby said member clears thepath traversed by the platen and subsequently comes 1 into proximitywith the latter. ,l

2. A sheet feeding device for a platen iress, comprising a rockable feedarm, means for rocking said feed arm between a sheet receiving positionanda position over the .i

platen, part of the rocking taking placev during the movement of theplaten, a vmember movably associated with said feed arm, a sheetcarrying device associated with. said member, said member being disposedso as to f,

clear thepath of the platenv during one portion of the movement of saidfeed arm, and means for moving said member with respect rto said feedarm so as tov cause said sheet carrying device to travel substantiallyparall- :'il

lel with the platen during another portion of themovement of said feedarm.

3. The combination with a platen press including a bed, a platen, and acrank motion device for effecting a rocking movement `of Vthe bed withrespect tothe platen, of means for feeding sheets to said platen,comprising a rockable feed arm, connection means between said feed armand said crank motion device to cause said feed arm to rock between f asheet receivingposition and a position over -said platen, a membermovably associated withsaid feed arm, a sheet carryingdevice associatedwith said member, said member vice clears thepath ofthe platen duringthe first part of the movement of said feed arm 'towards the platen,andV means for moving said member Awith respect to said feed arm, so

being disposed so that said sheet carrying deas to bring saidsheetcarrying deviceinto proximity with the platen during the latterpartV of the movement of said 4feed arm towards theplaten.' y

4. The combination with aV platen press iiicluding a bed, a platen and acrank motion associated withV said member, said member being disposed sothat said sheet carrying device clears the path of the platen during thefirst part of the movement of said f-eed arm towards the platen, andmeans for moving said member with respect to said feed arm, so as tocause said sheet carrying` device to travel substantially parallel withthe platen during the latter part of the movement of said feed armtowards the platen.

5. The combination with a platen press including a bed, a platen and acrank motion device for effecting a rocking movement` of the bed withrespect to the platen, of means for feeding sheets to said platen,compri Aing a rockable feed arm, connection means between said feed armand said crank motion device to cause said feed arm to rock between asheet re'eiving position and a position over said platen, a membermovably associated with said feed arm, a sheet carrying deviceassociated with said member, said men'iber being disposed so that saidsheet cai'- rying device clears the path of the platen during` the firstpart of the movement of said feed arm towards the platen, means formoving said member with respect to said feed arm, so as to bring saidsheet carrying device into proximity with the platen during the latterpart of the movement of said feed arm towards the platen, and means foreffecting a further movement of said member to separate said sheetcarrying device froni the platen during the first part of he movement ofsaid feed arm away from the platen.

6. The'combination with a platen press including a bed, a platen and acrank motion device for effecting a rocking movement of the bed withrespect to the platen, of means for feeding sheets to said platen,comprising a rockable feed arm, connect-ion means between said feed armand said crank motion device to cause said feed arm to rock between asheet receiving position anda position over said platen, a membermovably associated with said feed arm, a sheet carrying deviceassociatedA with said member, said member being disposed so that saidsheet carrying device clears the path of the platen during` the irstpart of the movement of said feed arm towards the platen, means formoving said member with respect to said feed arm, so as to cause saidsheet carrying device to travel substantially parallel with the platenduring the latter part of the movement of said feed arm towards theplaten, and means for effecting a further movement of said member toseparate said sheet carrying device from the platen during the firstpart of the movement of said feed arm away from the platen.

7. A sheet feedingdevice for platen presses comprising a movable feedmember, a sheet carrying member associated with said feed member andmovable with respect thereto,

connection means between the press bed and said feed member foractuating the latter, means for moving said sheet carrying member withrespect to said feed member during a to said platen, comprising a membermovy ableacross the platen towards the end stop thereon to deposite thesheet thereagainst, a link for connectingthe press bed with said member,to actuate the latter, and adjustable connection means for an end ofsaid link,y

whereby the extent of movement of said member towards the end stop canbe varied.

9. A sheet feeding device for a platen press,

'comprising a rockable feed arm, means for rocking said feed arm betweena sheet rei ceiving position and a position over the platen, part of therocking taking place during the movement of the platen, a` membermovably associated with said feed arm, a sheet carrying deviceassociated with said member, r9-5 said member being disposed so as toclear the path of the platen during one portion of the movement of saidfeed arm, means for moving said member with respect to said feed arm soas to bring said sheet carrying device T11-O0 into proximity with theplaten at another portion of the movement of said feed arm, and meansfor adjusting said rocking means so as to vary the extent of movement ofsaid feed arms towards the platen.

10. The combination with a platen press including a bed, a platen and acrank motion device for effecting a rocking movement of the bed withrespect to the platen, of means for feeding sheets to said platen,comprising a iockable feed arm, connection means between said feed armand said crank motion device to cause said feed arm to rock betweensheet receiving position and a position over said platen, a membermovably` associated withA said feed arm, a sheet carrying deviceassociated with said member, said member icing disposed so that saidsheet carrying device clears the path of the platen during the firstpart of tie movement of said feed;

arm towards the platen, means for moving said member with respect tosaid feed arm, so as to bring said sheet carrying device into proximitywith the platen during` the latter part of the movement of said feed armtowards the platen, and means for adjusting said connection means tovary the extent of `iinovement ofl said feed arm towards the platen.

1l. The combination with a platen press including a bed, a platen and acrank motion device for eecting a rocking movement of the bed withrespect to the platen, of means for feeding sheets to said platen,comprising a rockable feed arm, la link connected between said crankmotion device and said feed arm for rocking the latter between a sheetreceiving position and a position over said platen, an adjustableconnection for an end of said link whereby the extent of movement 10 ofsaid feed arm towards the platen may be varied, a member movablyassociated with said feed arm, a sheet carrying device associated withsaid member, said kmember beingl disposed so that said sheet carryingdevice 15 clears the path of the platen during the first part of themovement of said feed arm towards the platen, and means for moving saidmember With respect to said feed arm, so as to bring said sheet carryingdevice into prox- 20 imity With the platen during the latter part of themovement of said feed arm towards the platen. Y

EDWARD CHESHIRE.

